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Upcoming U.S. Mint medal offerings...

BackroadJunkieBackroadJunkie Posts: 3,745 ✭✭✭✭✭

A question in the WWI thread jarred loose a couple of brain cells about the Mint's upcoming medal series on ASE blanks. I've mentioned it a couple of times in other threads, but should probably put it in it's own thread since the presidential series is supposed to start this year.

There are plans to strike generic, proof silver medals (on ASE planchets) for all the different armed service branches. "Generic" meaning they will not be tied to any anniversary or date. The Mint specifically said these will be part of the permanent medal offerings.

They are also planning on releasing the presidential medals in proof. So they will be striking more T.R., Hoover, Ike, etc. medals, but this time in proof, so it will keep the uncirc finish medals in the C&C sets unique. These are the same design as the current bronze presidential medals.

The silver medals are not replacing the bronze version(s), but will be an additional choice. Since these aren't regulated by law, all presidents, even those still alive, will get a silver version.

First up (this year) will be Washington and Adams, then four per year until all the prezzes get their medal. All of these new silver medals will become part of the permanent catalog.

Since both series will be offered forever, they will probably be dateless. The Mint usually advertises new medals on their website, but they generally aren't announced in the product schedule unless they're tied into another product and are somehow limited.

Comments

  • MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 36,070 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The need to do the spouses, too.

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • coinpalicecoinpalice Posts: 2,464 ✭✭✭✭✭

    buying a medal is like throwing money out the window

  • oldgoldloveroldgoldlover Posts: 429 ✭✭✭

    Run Forest

  • coinpalicecoinpalice Posts: 2,464 ✭✭✭✭✭

    there is only one mint offering this year that could be a winner, only if it has a lower mintage and price which will be offered in the summer

  • ECHOESECHOES Posts: 2,974 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'm in... :#

    ~HABE FIDUCIAM IN DOMINO III V VI / III XVI~
    POST NUBILA PHOEBUS / AFTER CLOUDS, SUN
    Love for Music / Collector of Dreck
  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 36,924 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I hate Mint medals as a general rule. Hmmm...that seems harsh. I like the look of them, but I never hold on to them because they are overproduced and generally hard to sell on the secondary market. HOWEVER, I'm wondering about slabbed versions of these.

    1. Would PCGS or NGC slab these "First Strike"? This would essentially "date" the coins.
    2. Would anyone care years from now that the medals came from the 1st year rather than all the subsequent restrikings?

    Thoughts?

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, evn when irrefutably accurate.

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Maybe if they issue an attractive U.S. Navy on an ASE planchet... Might get that one...Cheers, RickO

  • OPAOPA Posts: 17,143 ✭✭✭✭✭

    As a rule, I only purchase medals or medallions for their bullion value. To me, they are nothing but bullion rounds and treated as such.

    "Bongo drive 1984 Lincoln that looks like old coin dug from ground."
  • JBKJBK Posts: 16,484 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wow - you guys are harsh. Medals can be beautiful, historical, etc. etc. But, the limited collector base means that your pessimism is largely warranted.

    To me, these proof silver Presidential medals are a mystery. Who wants them?. A few people will buy individual medals, but long term, what is the prognosis for this series? I say these "permanent" additions to the Mint's medal catalog will be relatively short-lived. I mean, the bronze versions aren't even always available.

    If they did them as bullion rounds it might be fun, but who is going to collect a set of proof silver Presidential medals? I figure that market was probably covered by the Franklin Mint decades ago.

  • MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 36,070 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If only they could get them to the door in some cheaper way than sending them in cellophane -- which would be a crime.

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • BackroadJunkieBackroadJunkie Posts: 3,745 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @JBK said:
    Wow - you guys are harsh. Medals can be beautiful, historical, etc. etc. But, the limited collector base means that your pessimism is largely warranted.

    I don't agree. Medals have been a core part of the Mint for over 200 years. They've had a permanent sales of bronze medals for over 150 years.

    These won't be one-off, limited edition medals, but part of the permanent catalog. This is part of what the Mint does.

    To me, these proof silver Presidential medals are a mystery. Who wants them?. A few people will buy individual medals, but long term, what is the prognosis for this series? I say these "permanent" additions to the Mint's medal catalog will be relatively short-lived. I mean, the bronze versions aren't even always available.

    Pretty sure the idea came from the relative popularity of the TR, FDR and the 2015 C&C sets. I was very disappointed when the Mint flaked out and didn't include one with Reagan's. They didn't even include a bronze version of the medal.

    As for availability, I wouldn't be surprised if they do keep up and keep these available. It's not like die production these days is as difficult as it used to be even 50 years ago, and ASE blanks are probably more common at the Mint than those half-pound bronze pucks. (Not to mention the actual production.) I have the entire Prez medal collection in 1 5/8, and I think some would look pretty darn good in silver proof.

    BTW, when I was last at a mint store (albeit in 2000), I was amazed at the number of medals they had available for sale. Far more than what's in the online catalog. And even the online catalog has a surprising number of offerings that vary through the year.

    If they did them as bullion rounds it might be fun, but who is going to collect a set of proof silver Presidential medals? I figure that market was probably covered by the Franklin Mint decades ago.

    I'd consider putting a set together if they market them at a reasonable price. (The 2016 American Liberty at $35 was reasonable. The 2017 American Liberty at $60 is stupidly overpriced.) The full 1 5/8" set looks pretty cool all together, but the strikes on most of those medals suck. A full set reworked in silver proof will probably look pretty impressive...

  • JBKJBK Posts: 16,484 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BackroadJunkie said:
    I don't agree. Medals have been a core part of the Mint for over 200 years. They've had a permanent sales of bronze medals for over 150 years.

    These won't be one-off, limited edition medals, but part of the permanent catalog. This is part of what the Mint does.

    I think you missed my point. I love mint medals, but most issues, at least for the 3 inch versions, seem to sell on the secondary market for well under issue price. A few popular ones that are no longer made do well, but many do not.

    As for the permanent catalog, as far as I know, many if not most of the bronze presidents have been out of stock for years. I don't think you can even buy a set of the small bronze ones like in the old days.

    Time will tell if silver makes a difference, and although I expect them to look great, past experience is not reassuring for their long term prospects. I would be happy if that is not the case, and time will tell.

  • jmski52jmski52 Posts: 23,283 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I might have some interest, but once again - the Mint is fragmenting the coin market even further and diluting the value of just about any Modern issue.

    Of course, this is just the near term impact. You never really know what people will desire as collectors, later on. Like, in 3 or 4 decades.

    Q: Are You Printing Money? Bernanke: Not Literally

    I knew it would happen.
  • dennis1219dennis1219 Posts: 267 ✭✭✭

    Well I will sign on for 2 of all the presidential proofs. The .999 bullion Coin is not an investment coin for sure... but I love my silver and look forward to this series... I guess for the next 10 years at 4 per year.

  • nurmalernurmaler Posts: 1,158 ✭✭✭

    Aug 16th

  • JimnightJimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I don't buy U.S. Mint products.

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,848 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @coinpalice said:
    buying a medal is like throwing money out the window

    That is not true for many of the older ones. Just ask anyone who bought a nice bronze Libertas Americana back in the 1980s medal for from $1,000 to $2,000. Today they can have $12,000+. I could have bought a silver one for $5,000, but I didn't have the money in those days. Today they are worth over $100,000.

    You would have made money on most any 19th century U.S. mint metal you bought in the 1980s. The finish is beautiful, and the mintages are consistently under 100 pieces for many varieties.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • edited August 6, 2018 4:10PM
    This content has been removed.

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